Advancing Vision For You Through Research
As part of East Florida Eye Institute’s long-standing commitment to advancing eye care, our physicians are actively involved in developing new therapies and improving patient outcomes through ongoing clinical research. By bringing university-level innovation and expertise to the Treasure Coast, we ensure our patients receive the safest, most effective treatments available.
At East Florida Eye Institute, our commitment to research directly enhances the care we provide every day. Ongoing studies in macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and dry eye disease are continuously shaping how we diagnose, treat, and protect vision for our patients. The doctors at our vision research center in Stuart have seen firsthand how new discoveries can transform lives, and they work diligently to bring those breakthroughs into patient care as soon as possible.
By combining state-of-the-art diagnostic technology with the latest clinical innovations, we offer truly individualized treatment plans—customized to meet each patient’s unique needs. Our doctors’ groundbreaking work in wet macular degeneration and glaucoma has been recognized internationally, featured in respected publications such as EuroTimes, MedPage Today, MD Support, and Doctor’s Guide, where their research was highlighted as a key contribution of the year.
Beyond research and publications, our physicians share their expertise with colleagues around the world—presenting their findings at major international meetings, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. Through this commitment to innovation, education, and collaboration, East Florida Eye Institute continues to lead the way in advancing treatments that protect and restore sight.
Join Our Cutting-Edge Ophthalmic Research Studies
East Florida Eye Institute is at the forefront of ophthalmic research, contributing to the development of innovative treatments for eye conditions. We are excited to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking studies. Currently, we are welcoming participants for clinical trials in the following areas:
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Diabetic Macular Edema: Examining the effectiveness of investigative eye injection (RO7497372) as an alternative treatment option for this condition.
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Open Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension: Exploring an experimental long-lasting implant (AGN-193408) designed to manage intraocular pressure without the burden of daily eye drops.
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Moderate to Severe Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Evaluating the effectiveness of an investigative eye injection (BI-764524) in managing retinal non-perfusion associated with diabetic retinopathy.
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Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of different doses of an oral medication (BI 1584862) in patients with this condition.
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Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Studying the efficacy of a one-time gene therapy injection (4D-150) in the management of this condition compared to Eylea.
Participation in our research not only provides access to the latest treatments under development but also contributes to the broader understanding of eye health and disease management. Join us in shaping the future of ophthalmology.
For more information on how to participate, please visit our contact page
or
call us directly at 772-287-9000 (option 4).
A special thanks to those who have participated in our clinical studies.
To our valued patients that have recently participated in our studies,
thank you so much for helping us with recent approvals of:
SYFOVRE FOR GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY
IZERVAY FOR GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY
EYLEA HD FOR WET MACULAR DEGENERATION AND DIABETIC MACULAR EDMEA
EYLEA FOR WET MACULAR DEGENERATION AND CRVO
BEOVU FOR WET MACULAR DEGENERATION
LUCENTIS FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
OZURDEX FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
UPNEEQ FOR DROOPY EYELID
DUREZOL FOR USE AFTER OCULAR SURGERY
OMIDRIA FOR CATARACT SURGERY
DURYSTA FOR GLAUCOMA
ZIOPTAN FOR GLAUCOMA
SIMBRINZA FOR GLAUCOMA
TRAVATAN Z FOR GLAUCOMA
Dr. Frenkel’s research was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology
Using a simple gray filter to stress patients’ eyes, ophthalmologists are able to predict visual acuity change during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A (anti-VEGF) therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study.
“Now we are able to tell patients with a high degree of accuracy how they will do with anti-VEGF injections,” Dr. Ronald E.P. Frenkel, who led the study, told Reuters Health by phone. “The method is so elegant and it has incredible predictability. We couldn’t tell patients before what to expect.”
He noted that previously, the test had proved helpful in patients with dry AMD, but this is the first time anyone has tested it in patients with wet AMD.
Dr. Frenkel, of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, and colleagues conducted the HARBOR trial, a two-year, phase 3 randomized trial of intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis) 0.5 or 2.0 mg monthly or as needed in wet AMD patients. A total of 1,084 patients were enrolled in the trial. Their mean age was 78.7 years and about 60 percent were women. In a Nov. 5 online paper in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Dr. Frenkel and colleagues report change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) under optimal illumination over the course of the two-year study. The researchers also evaluated low-luminance visual acuity (LLVA).
Dr. Frenkel discovers a way to predict prognosis for Wet Macular Degeneration patients.
Ronald Frenkel, MD, FACS, FICS has discovered a new way to let patients with Wet Macular Degeneration know the prognosis of treatment before they start it. Dr. Frenkel has been awarded this presentation at the annual meeting of ARVO, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthlalmology, the largest eye research meeting in the world. Dr. Frenkel served as Principal Investigator at the East Florida Eye Institute in Stuart. He headed up the portion of the colossal national multi-center HARBOR clinical trial for Wet Macular.
Degeneration treatment that discovered how to predict the patient’s prognosis and response to treatment, when one is first diagnosed with the disease. The study had 99 participating centers from across the United States and enrolled 1097 patients with newly diagnosed Wet Macular Degeneration. This will have a significant impact on patients and their families as such a prognosis does not currently exist.
Avoiding blood pressure dips helps prevent worsening of glaucoma
Current risk factors for glaucoma include high eye pressure, age, family history, and thin corneas. Through our research, we have discovered a new risk factor for glaucoma: nighttime dips in blood pressure. By having patients wear a blood pressure monitor for a 24-hour period, we have found that patients with worsening glaucoma despite “controlled” eye pressures have significant drops in their blood pressure at night. Decreased blood pressure causes decreased blood flow to the optic nerve, resulting in glaucomatous nerve damage. We work with patients’ medical doctors to diminish this risk so that glaucoma can be prevented or stabilized. (Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology)
We are working diligently to put an end to vision loss from eye disease such as Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma. Through the Eye Research Foundation, we will continue to provide the very best care to our ‘treasured’ patients on the ‘Treasure Coast’. Our commitment to the most up to date patient care improves our patients lives. They can ‘see’ everyday.
Dr. Ronald Frenkel. M.D., F.A.C.S., F.I.C.S., Founder.
THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT 501(C)(3) EYE RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ERF) AT EAST FLORIDA EYE INSTITUTE EXEMPLIFIES OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING THE DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASE THROUGH OUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH. BELOW, OUR VISION RESEARCH CENTERS IN STUART AND PORT ST. LUCIE HAVE PROVIDED OPHTALMOLOGY ARTICLES ON THE CLINICAL RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED ON EYE DISEASES.